Pelt fleshing machine



July 4, 1950 H. w. MAY

PELT FLESHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1949 F/G. L.

INVENTOR HEEBEET W MAX ATTORNEY-5 Patented July 4, 1950 fast;

1 y U ITED STATE PA ENT OFFICE BELT FLESHING MACHINE Herbert W. May, Mauston, Wis. v Application December 22, 1249, Serial No. 134,405

3 Claims.

This invention relates to pelt fleshing tools,

and more particularly to a machine for cleaning the fat and. flesh off of a pelt, wherein the operator may rotate the pelt without handling same.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for use in cleaning the fat and flesh off of a pelt, said machine being very simple in construction, being easy to use, and enabling the operator to have both hands free at all times during the cleaning and fieshing of the pelt, whereby time is saved in the process of cleaning and fleshing the pelt, and the pelt requires a minimum amount of handling.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rotary support device for supporting a pelt during the fleshing process, said device being inexpensive to manufacture, being rugged in construction, and enabling the operator to control the rotation of the pelt in either direction by means of foot pressure, thereby enabling the operator to have both hands free at all times.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective View of an improved machine for rotatably supporting a pelt during the fleshing process thereof, said machine being constructed in accordance with the present in-- vention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional, detail view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the machine is designated generally at H. Said machine comprises a rectangular base frame I2 having secured thereon the transverse boards I3, the forward end board being designated at I3. The boards l3 and I3 define a rectangular platform on which the operator stands during the fleshing operation. Secured to the forward corners of the frame |2 are the upstanding, vertical post members I4, M, the lower ends of the post members I 4, I4 being secured to the forward, transverse crossbar I5 of the frame I2 and the top ends of said vertical post members I4, l4 being connected by a transverse crossbar I6. The vertical post members I4, I4 are braced by diagonal strut members IT, IT connecting the upper portions of the vertical post members to the sides of the frame I2.

Secured to the intermediate portion of the lower crossbar I5 is a cup-shaped bearing bracket l8, and secured to the intermediate portion of the top, transverse crossbar I6 is a vertically sleeved bearing bracket I9, the bracket I9 being in vertical alignment with the bracket I8. Rotatably mounted in the brackets" I8 and I9 is a vertical, tubular shaft 20. Designated at 2| is a large, downwardly concaved disc member secured to the lower portion of shaft 20 by means of a set screw 22, as shown in Figure 2. The disc member 2| is pr ferably positioned closely adjacent the top surface of the platform defined by the boards I3 and I3, and the disc member is formed with radial ribs 23 adjacent its periphery so that said disc member may be readily rotated by the operators foot. Telescopically received in the shaft 20 is a vertical rod 24, said rod projecting from the top end of the shaft 20 and being adjustably secured therein by means of set screws 25, 25 provided on the tubular shaft 20. The top end of the rod 24 carries a cylindrical cup 26 in which is secured the enlarged vertical, upwardly projecting, wooden spindle 21. The top end of spindle 21 is tapered to define a blunt point 28, as shown in Figure 1.

In the process of skinning a mink, fox or other small animal, a certain amount of fat and flesh is left on the skin side of the pelt. This must be cleaned off before the pelt can be dried or accepted by the market. The most widely accepted method of doing this at the present time is to pull the pelt (fur side in) over a stationary spindle. This spindle is usually fastened solidly to a table or wall. The pelt on this spindle is then scraped with a flashing tool. It is impractical for the operator to move around the spindle, so he has to lay his fleshing tool down and turn the pelt on the spindle in order to clean all sides of the pelt.

In the use of the machine of the present invention, the pelt is pulled (fur side in) over the upstanding spindle 21, and the operator stands on the platform defined by the boards l3, l3 and cleans the pelt with a fleshing tool, controlling the rotation of the pelt by means of the foot operated disc 2|. The rotation of the spindle can be controlled for movement of the spindle in either direction by light pressure of the operators foot on the control disc 2|. This enables the operator to have both hands free at all times during the process of cleaning and fieshing the pelt, and the operator is not required to lay down his fleshing tool in order to turn the pelt. This saves a great deal of time during the fleshing operation on the pelt and eliminates any need of handling the pelt manually during said operation, The height of the pelt may be adjusted to suit the convenience of the operator by means of the set screws 25, 25. I

The position of the foot control disc 2| may be adjusted by means of the set screw 22 to provide proper clearance between the disc and the platform of the machine.

While a specific embodiment of a rotary support device for use in fleshing pelts has been disclosed in the foregoing description, w it will be understood that various modifications within the' spirit of the'invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pelt fieshing apparatus of the character described comprising a SuppOrting frameAa ver-- tical shaft rotatably carried by said frame, 1a ,disc carried by the lower port-ion of the shaft, and an upwardly projecting mandrel axially carried by the upperportion "of the shaft; i2. A-peltfleshirigapparatus of thecharactr described comprising a, supporting frame, a hori v df the shaftadjacent the platform, a vertical rod telescopically received in said shaft and project- "'ingupwardlytherefrom, means for adjustably seeurmgssai'd:rodainitheiitubular shaft, and a tapered wooden mandrel axially carried by the top portiondfsaid rod.

HERBERT W. MAY.

l lo-references: cited. 

